Maruti Suzuki Dzire

The Maruti Dzire has been on sale in India for almost two decades. The first version was launched in 2008 by the name of Swift Dzire. It has gone through multiple iterations, dropped the ‘Swift’ name in 2017, and entered its fourth generation in 2024, which is currently on sale. It is among India’s highest-selling cars, and even if you haven’t owned one, there’s a strong chance you’ve experienced one as a cab.

I used the Dzire as my personal car for 4 months, took it on multiple trips, and compared it to its rivals in every aspect to see where it stands. From my experience, here is a detailed review which explains who should buy the Dzire and why.

The Dzire has a very simple and sober design, which works in its favour. It does not look aggressive, nor does it have any standout elements. Just the modern design language, subtle premium touches, and thoughtfully designed lighting elements give it a very neat and elegant look.

Its face has slim LED headlamps with a smoked effect, which blend neatly with a gloss black strip. The LED DRLs underline the headlights and are connected via a slim chrome strip that adds a premium touch. Maruti has used a wide grille with horizontal lines that makes the car look wide when viewed from the front, and the fog lamps are placed within the slim bumper.

The side profile is the simplest angle with little to no sharp lines or creases, and the silhouette is similar to the previous version. It must be said that managing a proportionate design for a sedan under 4 metres in length is difficult, but they’ve pulled it off gracefully. But, the highlight here is the 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, which match its premiumness, and if you look closely, you’ll spot “7”-shaped design elements.

Lower variants (LXi and VXi) get 15-inch steel wheels, and the mid-spec ZXi variant gets 15-inch painted alloys. A few other details, like a shark fin antenna and a chrome strip on the window line, complete this elegant design.

The rear end has a simple design, just like the other profiles. Maruti has used chunky LED headlamps, but they have been executed in a good way. They house Y-shaped lighting elements, and the indicators are slim and vertically placed. The bumper here is massive, there is a slim chrome strip running across the boot lip, and the top has an integrated spoiler which uplifts the entire rear design.

Unlike its previous versions, which were just an extended version of the Swift, this version of the Dzire has its own identity. It might not turn heads regularly, but the simple yet graceful design will be liked by most people.

But if I were asked to change something, I’d add bigger 16-inch wheels to properly fill the wheel wells, and make them wider, as the current ones look very slim.

Maruti offers the Dzire in 7 shades: Gallant Red, Alluring Blue, Nutmeg Brown, Bluish Black, Arctic White, Magma Grey, and Splendid Silver. The red, blue, and black shades stand out the most.

Design & Quality

The Dzire’s cabin is similar to its sibling, the Maruti Swift, and the only difference is the dual-tone black and beige theme and the wooden insert on the dashboard. This cabin, while not unique, does match the Dzire’s simple design approach, and actually looks nice. The only issue is its light theme, which gets dirty very quickly. 

Apart from this theme, there are subtle brushed aluminium inserts on the steering wheel, dashboard, and around the middle AC vents, and the climate control panel, along with the touchscreen housing, are finished in a glossy black finish. Both of these design choices add additional contrast to the cabin.

In terms of cabin quality, there is nothing out of the ordinary. The steering wheel and gear knob have leatherette padding, door armrests are wrapped in fabric, the wooden and aluminum inserts have a smooth finish, and the plastics are hard but not scratchy.

Even the fit and finish are up to the mark. All buttons are solid and clicky, the AC vents have the required weight, nothing feels loose or flimsy, and there are no panel gaps. Some plastic elements like the door pads and glovebox do feel a little light, but the cabin quality is what you expect from a Maruti at this price point, just above average.

Front Seats

Getting in and out of the Dzire does not require any additional efforts. The doors open wide enough to allow easy ingress and egress, and the seats are also placed at a neutral height. The rear passengers will have to duck down a little, especially if they are 6 feet or taller, but for most people, including the elderly, getting in and out will be hassle-free.

Maruti offers off-white fabric seats, which provide good side support even for generously sized passengers, and the cushioning is also balanced, which offers good support during both long and short journeys. However, the side bolsters do feel a little too soft, and I would have liked them to have firmer cushioning.

There is enough headroom for users up to 6ft in height, and the footwell is also decently spacious. You get a height-adjustable driver seat from the VXi variant, and the steering wheel has tilt adjustability, both of which allow you to find your driving position easily.

Frontal visibility is good as you can clearly see the road from the large windshield with no major blind spots, making it beginner-friendly, but due to the sloping roofline and a small rear windshield, the rearward visibility is somewhat limited.

All the buttons are easily accessible, making the driving position very ergonomic, but I wish Maruti had offered a front armrest for better support and comfort over long-distance travels or long hours in the seat during city commutes.

Rear Seats

Dzire’s rear seat offers good space for two average-sized adults, but fitting three in the back will be a stretch. Due to the car’s width, seating three will result in shoulder overlap, and none of the occupants will get enough space. However, you can seat three passengers here for short commutes.

For two passengers, there is a good amount of knee room, enough footroom to stretch your legs, and the underthigh support is also adequate. The headroom, however, is limited due to the sloping roofline. I’m 5’8”, and my hair would scrape against the roof if I sat upright. For 6-footers, the headroom will be an issue, and they’ll have to adjust how to sit to avoid hitting their head on the roof. If you’re using a cab service and are tall, you’re better off choosing one of the hatchback options (WagonR, S-Presso, etc) than the Dzire for rear seat headroom.

Unlike the front, the rear passengers get a centre armrest for a more comfortable seating position, and there are rear AC vents with a split in the middle so that both passengers can be comfortable.

Outward visibility from the rear seats is good due to the large windows, but due to the big front headrests, frontal visibility gets compromised. But, since this cabin has a light theme, the passengers do not feel cramped.

Storage Options

With the Dzire, you get all the basic storage options you need in a car. All four doors get 1-litre bottle holders with some space on the side for additional smaller items. Front passengers get a decent-sized glovebox, two cupholders in the centre console, and a tray which doubles as a wireless phone charger.

Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest, a seatback pocket behind the front passenger seat, and a small cubby above the rear AC vents, which is shared with the front passengers. The only thing missing is a seatback pocket behind the driver's seat.

Charging Options

To charge your phone, you get a wireless phone charger in the front along with a USB port and a 12V socket.

Rear passengers get one Type-C port and one USB Type-A port placed above the rear AC vents.

The Dzire’s cabin as a whole is not one without any flaws. But the space is good for four passengers, its practicality is all that you need, and it does that while being ergonomic. For a first car, this cabin will not disappoint.

Boot Space

With 382 litres of boot space, you can store an entire suitcase set (small, medium and large) along with one small soft bag or two office bags. But due to the space of this boot, I recommend you use smaller cabin-sized suitcases for this boot’s best utilisation.

In the CNG variants, due to the presence of a big tank, the boot space gets significantly compromised, leaving space for just one or two cabin-sized suitcases. Also, while the boot lip is low, the narrow loading area makes it a little difficult to load and unload suitcases.

One small issue that this boot comes with has to do with its execution. In most cars, if the car is unlocked, you can easily open the boot without having the key with you. But in case of the Dzire, even if the car is unlocked, you’ll need the key in proximity in order to unlock the boot with the request sensor. This seems like an unnecessary additional step that could have been avoided. 

The Dzire gets all the basic equipment needed for your everyday commutes, and it brings in some modern tech and feel-good features as well. Here is a list of all the basic features on offer:

Apart from these features, it also gets a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This screen fits perfectly in this cabin as it's not too big and not too small. It is convenient to use, the large icons make it easy to understand, it runs smoothly, and navigating between menus is hassle-free.

With this screen, you get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which work seamlessly, and this setup is paired with a 6-speaker sound system, which provides a decent sound quality. While this screen is easy to use, the user interface feels dated, and I feel the Dzire, along with other Maruti models, can benefit from a more modern-looking interface.

There is a wireless phone charger as well, which is a nice feature to have, but in my experience, when you’re using Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, the wireless phone charger tends to stop charging due to the phone overheating. A vent near the charger would have made the execution much better.

Maruti has also added a single-pane sunroof, which brings in additional light to this already airy cabin.

Lastly, in the top-spec ZXi+ variant, you get a 360-degree camera with both 2D and 3D views. The feed is clear, not grainy, and it functions decently well in low light conditions, making it easier to get the car out of narrow roads and tight parking spaces. However, while you can select side views, there is no dedicated blind view monitor, and you can not move around the 3D model.

Standard safety features of the Dzire include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold assist, rear parking sensors, rear defogger, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Mid-spec ZXi variant brings in a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and a rearview camera, and the 360-degree camera is reserved for the top-spec variant.

Also, the Maruti Dzire is the first car from the brand to secure a 5-star crash test safety rating. It first scored 5 stars in Bharat NCAP, and later achieved the same rating in Global NCAP.

Engine Options And Performance

The Dzire comes with a 3-cylinder 1.2-litre naturally aspirated (NA) petrol engine that can be had either with a manual transmission or with an AMT (automated manual transmission). You have manual and automatic (AMT) transmission available with both the petrol and CNG engines.

*MT- Manual Transmission, AMT- Automated Manual Transmission

1.2-litre NA Petrol

This engine lacks refinement, which leads to vibrations on the footwell, gear knob, and steering wheel. It isn’t crude, but test drive its main rival, the Honda Amaze, which gets a 4-cylinder engine, and the difference in smoothness is easily perceived. These vibrations are further amplified by the lack of insulation. But when it comes to power delivery, you get a smooth output for a relaxed drive experience.

City Performance

This engine has been tuned for better city drives, and that becomes evident once you start driving. There is enough low-end torque for you to easily cruise around. In fact, you can drive in 2nd gear continuously without needing to change gears frequently. 

The engine also handles load pretty well and does not get loud. It sounds good, and you can push it to 80 kmph in 2nd or 3rd gear, and it will not sound stressed. Your city drives are exciting as you get instant power to overtake others, and at no point does the Dzire feel underpowered in the city.

However, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, at crawling speeds, you have to be careful with the clutch to prevent the car from stalling. With the manual, you get a light clutch, and the gear throws are also smooth.

The AMT offers a similar experience as the gears change smoothly at slow speeds, and it further adds convenience to your drives. You can easily get a fuel efficiency of around 15-16 kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance

While the city drives are effortless, the highway drives feel a little dull. You can get to cruising speeds of 70-80 kmph with ease, but beyond that, gaining speed takes time. Here, overtakes will require some planning, and occasionally you’ll need to downshift to gain some speed.

Even the AMT feels slow here. If you’re driving in a relaxed manner, you won’t have any issues. But anything more than that will make the gear shifts feel slow and jerky. I recommend you use the manual mode for quicker gear changes.

When driving on elevation or in ghats, the Dzire requires you to frequently change gears in order to maintain momentum. It's not like you can get a very exciting drive experience from its rivals either, but since the city drives are so effortless, the highway drives feel dull in comparison.

The upside to this performance is a high fuel efficiency. You can get around 20 kmpl easily, and if you’re cruising at normal speeds of 80-90 kmph, you can get a great mileage of around 24 kmpl.

1.2-litre NA Petrol + CNG

The experience is quite similar to the standard petrol, just the engine gets slightly louder under load. Inside the city, you won’t notice the drop in power, and you can easily cruise around.

However, the highway drives will become even more dull, and you’ll need to better plan your overtakes. Getting to high speeds will also take more time, and the engine will feel stressed beyond the speed of 80 kmph.

If you drive in the city, you should go for the CNG as you also have the option of an AMT gearbox now and can have a relaxed drive experience and a high claimed fuel efficiency of over 33 km/kg with the manual and 36.47 km/kg with the AMT.

Ride Comfort

The Dzire has always been a very comfortable car and continues to offer brilliant ride comfort in its current version. It drives over small potholes and speed breakers with ease, and the cabin’s movement is very well controlled. Even over sharper speed breakers and deeper potholes, the side-to-side movement of the passengers is limited. 

With a 163 mm of ground clearance, you can drive easily over rough roads and you won’t have to worry about the bottom being scraped. On the highways, it remains stable and limits any vertical movement of the passenger when driven over flyover joints and undulations.

Handling

On the handling front, it is not sporty in any way, but it manages to do a decent job. The steering is responsive, it has enough weight to inspire confidence, and it can be fun to drive around corners. The body roll is also controlled well during quick lane changes. 

The Dzire offers a good balance of ride comfort and handling, which will not leave you wanting for more. It will keep you comfortable on most surfaces, and its handling will also keep you engaged.

The Maruti Dzire is available in four variants: LXI, VXI, ZXI, and ZXI+.

The mid-spec VXI and ZXI variants can also be had with an optional factory-fitted CNG kit with MT and AMT gearbox options.

Maruti Dzire LXI variant

• Offered with Petrol MT powertrain only.

• The Maruti Dzire gets LED tail lights from the base variant, along with 14-inch steel wheels, shark fin antenna, and bootlip spoiler.

• Covers all basic needs including, manual AC, power windows, central locking, adjustable headrests, 

• Standard safety features include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, and reverse parking sensors.

Maruti Dzire VXI variant

• Available with Petrol MT, Petrol AMT, CNG MT and CNG AMT powertrain options.

• Sports better looks, courtesy of wheel covers, chrome inserts, and body coloured door handles and outside mirrors.

• The entertainment package starts from here with a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and 4-speakers.

• Improved comfort and convenience with rear AC vents, electric outside mirrors, manual IRVM, driver seat height adjustment, rear central armrest and adjustable rear headrests.

Maruti Dzire ZXI variant

• Gets MT and AMT gearbox options with both petrol and CNG engine options.

• Looks are enhanced by LED headlamps and DRLs, painted 15-inch alloys and even more chrome inserts.

• Cabin looks are also improved with chrome and wood accents.

• Adds feel-good features like cruise control, push button start/stop, auto headlamps, auto AC, 6-speaker sound system, connected car technology and reversing parking camera.

• This is the highest CNG variant you can get with the Dzire.

Maruti Dzire ZXI+ variant

• Powered by petrol engine option, with a choice of MT and AMT gearbox options.

• Gets Full LED lighting setup with projector LED headlights and LED fog lights. Dual tone 15-inch alloy wheels also uplift the looks.

• The dashboard looks more premium with the 9-inch infotainment system, while the multi-info driver’s display is now coloured.

• Notable additions include an electric sunroof, a 360-degree camera, cruise control, and auto outside mirrors.

CarDekho Recommends:

• If you’re on a tight budget, the one-above-base VXI trim seems like a good option. It gets all the basic adjustment and comfort options, functional features, and a few convenience features as well.

• If your budget allows, the top-spec variant offers a premium experience. But you can settle for the one-below-top ZXI variant too as it offers a good balance of premium features, looks and the convenient, yet cost-effective CNG-AMT combo.

Maruti Dzire’s package is a neat blend of premiumness and usefulness that will surely appeal to a family. It offers a good-looking design that stands out, a fuel efficiency that will be light on your wallet, and great comfort on every single drive. There is no shortage of features, and it is a brilliant option for those looking for a family car on a budget.

It would have been an even better option if it had more performance for highway drives. But still, it proves itself to be a safe option which comes with little to no compromise and high resale value too.

Other Options To Consider

Tata Tigor

Reasons To Consider

• Better infotainment package

• Better rear headroom

Reasons To Ignore

• Feels outdated compared to rivals

• Not as fuel-efficient as the Dzire

Honda Amaze

Reasons To Consider

• Offers Level-1 ADAS

• Comes with a proper automatic transmission

Reasons To Ignore

• Most expensive in the segment

Hyundai Aura

Reasons To Consider

• Affordable top-spec variant

• Premium interiors

Reasons To Ignore

• Fewer features compared to the Dzire